Murder accused to know fate today

A 12-member jury in the Port-of-Spain Assizes is expected to decide today the fate of a 25-year-old man accused of murdering his friend during an argument in 2005.Justice Geoffrey Henderson yesterday continued his summation to the jury in the Third Criminal Court at the Hall of Justice, Port-of-Spain. Henderson is expected to complete his summation this morning, after which the jury will be allowed to deliberate on a verdict for Shadelle Duncan.

Duncan is charged with the murder of his 18-year-old friend, Roger Brizal who was stabbed to death at the corner of Waterloo Road and the Eastern Main Road, Arouca, on November 2, 2005. Both men worked at a gas station in Tacarigua.
According to the prosecution’s case, Brizal and Duncan were liming with three friends when the duo got into an argument.

The State’s main witness, Adrian Thompson, claimed Brizal lost his temper during the argument. “He went mad like a wild animal,” Thompson testified. Thompson, who testified that the two were friends for almost ten years, said Brizal pulled a knife and attacked Duncan who was stabbed during the struggle. He testified that Brizal had bought the knife for protection after being robbed several months before.

Duncan also testified in his defence during the short trial. He is being represented by defence attorneys Wayne Sturge and Hasine Sheik. Brent Winter conducted the prosecution’s case.